Borrowing Items While Visiting Other Canadian University Libraries

Western Libraries and the Affiliated University College Libraries (Brescia, Huron, King's) and St. Peter’s Seminary participate in the Canadian University Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement (CURBA), a resource sharing program. This agreement allows Western faculty, students and staff to borrow in person from most university libraries across Canada.

Current faculty, students and staff can borrow from Omni Libraries in person with their Western ONECard.

Identification

To borrow items from another university you need:

  • Your current Western ONECard.

OR

  • an Inter-University Borrowing Project (IUBP) card, if visiting a Quebec university library .

IUBP cards can be obtained at any Western Libraries Info Desk or by contacting staff.

Lending Policies

CURBA allows Western graduate students, faculty and staff to borrow in person at participating libraries across Canada. Charges may apply.*

* The University of Toronto charges a fee of $310.00 per year for graduate students, faculty and staff.

Western undergraduate students may borrow in person at most participating libraries. Western undergraduates may not borrow from:

  • the University of Toronto
  • the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD)
  • Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).

The length of time and type of items you are allowed to borrow depends on the policies of the lending institution. In most cases you will be able to borrow regular loan, but not course readings or short loan items. Please check the lending institution's website for more information.

Fines and Suspensions

You are responsible for any lost items, fines incurred or damage done to borrowed items.

Western Libraries will assist Canadian university libraries with the collection of any library charges incurred by Western students, faculty or staff by applying appropriate sanctions of the Access Code for Western Libraries.

Returns

Borrowed items may be returned to:

  • the lending institution where the items were borrowed

OR

  • any participating CURBA institution, including any of the Western Libraries or Affiliated University College Libraries (Brescia, Huron, King's) and St. Peter's Seminary.